A Columbia graduate and former NASA intern was allegedly pushed to suicide when her $35 billion tech firm minimize off her advantages whereas she was on psychological well being depart — then fired her, her mother and father claimed in a lawsuit.
Annie Surman struggled with “nervousness and despair ensuing from excessive work stress” at knowledge storage firm MongoDB, the place she labored as a Technical Program Supervisor till she was canned in August 2024, based on the Manhattan Supreme Court docket papers.
A month later, Surman, 28, killed herself by overdosing on a drug she ordered on-line, her mother and father stated within the litigation.
The California native and Columbia College grad was a science wiz who helped NASA with the Mars Rover undertaking as an intern and did neuroscience analysis at Columbia Medical Middle earlier than becoming a member of MongoDB in 2021.
Her psychological and emotional state deteriorated whereas on the firm, the household claimed in courtroom paperwork.
“Annie regularly despatched messages to her mother and father about her incapacity to go away her mattress for days and her need to die,” her mother and father stated within the authorized submitting.
Issues received so unhealthy the one time excessive achiever “was usually unable to finish primary day by day features like getting off the bed and brushing her tooth or attending social gatherings,” her household stated within the lawsuit.
She took a one month medical depart in April 2024.
The corporate initially agreed to increase her absence via September 2024, however abruptly modified course, demanding on July 31 that she come again the next week, her household stated.
The identical day, MongoDB abruptly canceled her well being protection, regardless of realizing that Annie was present process “probably lifesaving” Ketamine remedy for her despair that “would permit her to return to work in 4 to 6 weeks,” based on courtroom paperwork.
“The timing of the Firm’s discriminatory actions was particularly merciless, as Annie was embarking on a brand new course of remedy and starting to imagine that there was hope for her restoration,” her mother and father Greg Surman and Karen Connolly, stated in courtroom papers.
“We made it clear that they didn’t must pay her or maintain her job open for her,” Mr. Surman wrote in a Dec. 20 LinkedIn publish. “We simply requested them to not hearth her whereas she was in such a susceptible state.”
Ignoring the household’s pleas, Mongo allegedly fired Surman on Aug. eighth, 2024.
“They despatched me an e-mail with all of the departure data and I really feel very sick,” Annie texted her mother, who was staying in New Jersey to be nearer to her daughter.
Connolly rushed to Annie’s condominium moments earlier than the distraught younger lady tried suicide utilizing a deadly drug ordered on-line, the household stated within the lawsuit, which didn’t determine the narcotic.
Surman then entered a psychiatric hospital, along with her mother and father paying out of pocket for the remedy.
However on Sept. 13, 2024, she tried suicide once more with the identical deadly drug “citing the disgrace she felt at being fired by MongoDB,” based on the lawsuit.
Surman apparently regretted the choice and referred to as 911 herself — however died on the way in which to the hospital.
“Mr. Surman was alone at the back of a taxi to the airport when he obtained the decision that Annie had died,” her mother and father stated in courtroom papers.
“He may hear his spouse’s screams within the background whereas he was helpless to consolation her.”
“For individuals who must know: I really like you. I really like you. I’m sorry. I really like you,” Surman wrote in her suicide notice, based on courtroom paperwork.
Mongo later backtracked on a suggestion to retrieve Annie’s life insurance coverage coverage for the household, who imagine the corporate fired Annie proper earlier than a mass layoff to keep away from paying her severance, based on the swimsuit.
“Even after Annie’s dying, MongoDB continued its callous and outrageous conduct towards her household,” the lawsuit says.
Surman had no psychological or emotional points previous to working for MongoDB, a lawyer for the household stated.
“She was not affected by psychological well being challenges when she began at Mongo,” Christine Dunn, the Surmans’ lawyer, advised The Publish.
The corporate didn’t reply to a message searching for remark.
